Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-16
2002-08-20
Breene, John (Department: 2177)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C709S223000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06438563
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a synchronizing method and device of a Management Information Base (hereinbelow abbreviated as MIB) in a Network Management System (hereinbelow abbreviated as NMS). Described in greater detail, a MIB is a database that stores data for the control by a Network Manager (hereinbelow abbreviated NM) of a plurality of Network Elements (hereinbelow abbreviated NE) that are connected to a communication network. The present invention relates to a method and a device for reloading to the MIB back-up data, which have been saved in advance, when the content of this MIB has for some reason been damaged or altered, and moreover, for synchronizing these data with the current information of each NE.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the prior art, message format or communication protocol is stipulated in advance in a communication network to which a multiplicity of NE are connected, and by means of these standards, the NMS manages the various configuration settings and controls for the plurality of NE that make up the communication network. The NMS gathers the management information held by each NE in order to realize this management, and in addition to generating its own management information and registering this information in the MIB, uses this MIB to manage the NE and communication network.
The network management referred to here pertains to controlling the configuration, operation, and maintenance of the communication network, and a NM is constituted by a computer in which are installed application programs for managing the configuration, detecting trouble, and monitoring the performance of the NE and lines on the communication network. On the other hand, the NE each have their own respective specific functions, but as for functions relating to the communication network, are provided with only extremely basic operation functions such as individual control, call processing, and information transfer. NE do not have operation capabilities that exceed this extent.
The NM and NE are normally connected by a control network for transmitting management information apart from the communication network. The NM analyzes and judges data provided from each individual NE by way of this control network, and moreover, executes a series of operations such as instructing each individual NE to carry out specific operations based on the results of analysis and judgment. Usually, only one such NM exists for one network, but the number of NM is not restricted to one, and in the case of a large-scale network, one or more NM may exist according to management zones or functions.
The communication of various settings and control signals between the NM and NE is carried out according to a specific communication protocol that is established for each network. Representative communication protocol types include CMIP (Common Management Information Protocol) that conforms with OSI (Open System Interconnection) established by the ISO (International Organization for Standardization), and the simpler protocol, SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol).
Taking one case in which SNMP protocol is used as one example, a specific NM and a plurality of NE exist in a network, and the NM transmits commands such as “get-request” and “set-request” established by SNMP, collects management information from each NE, and executes management operations such as configuration management and trouble management by, for example, exchanging setting information.
A MIB in this case is a database for storing management information that is used when network management is carried out by means of OSI management or SNMP. In addition, the stored management information is a logical model of the various NE functions that are necessary elements for management by the NM, and this information includes as attributes identifiers and detailed definitions of function operations. For a NE that switches lines, for example, upon defining the management information that represents the function of the hardware switch and, as the attribute of this information, the operating state of the switch, this NE executes operations such as receiving commands from the NM, informing the NM of operating states, and actually operating the switch. In other words, all information that the NM and NE save relating to management information is referred to as MIB, and the NM can manage the various functions within the NE by means of management information, which is an abstract representation.
Operation that is exercised from the NM upon the NE is executed by designating identification numbers of management information defined in this MIB, using commands such as “Get” and “Set,” and carrying out a setting operations of the management information of the NE (setting of operating conditions, the starting and halting of operations, as well as the generation, and deletion of the management information itself).
FIG. 1
is a conceptual view showing the positioning of the NM. NM
120
shown in
FIG. 1
is connected to each NE on communication network
100
by control network
110
and carries out communication by a specified control protocol.
As a provision against data loss due to failures, back-up data of database MIB
140
that is managed by NM
120
are copied to external storage medium
130
on a regular basis such as, for example, once each week. However, the operations of setting or reading out the values of the various information from NM
120
to the group of NE of communication network
100
is carried out many times every day, and differences in information between the content of MIB data
140
and the content of copied data in external storage medium
130
therefore increase in proportion to the time that elapses from the time of copying of back-up data to external storage medium
130
.
For example, a case is explained in which the data of MIB
140
of NM
120
becomes unusable due to some type of trouble. At this time, the back-up data stored beforehand in external storage medium
130
are restored to MIB
140
of NM
120
. In other words, when back-up data are reloaded to the machine memory during operation, the information in the memory of NM
120
is su overwritten by the back-up data. In this case, there is a high possibility that information that is currently set in the NE differs from the information at the time the back-up data were copied, and there is consequently a danger of a variety of new problems occurring due to conflicts in data if operations are continued with this unaltered data.
Assuming that the restored data are data that were saved in external storage medium
130
from MIB
140
one week previously, in a worst case, the information of all NE being managed may become non-current. If several hundred NE are being managed by the NM in question, processing was consequently required for uploading information from this number of NE to synchronize the MIB data that were restored by the data of the previous week with the most recent information.
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 186686/97 and Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 265426/97 are examples of the prior art that disclose similar database synchronization methods.
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 186686/97 discloses the establishment of duplicate NM in which the occurrence of differences in the databases respectively managed by an active NM and a standby NM is prevented by periodically sending network management information from the active NM to the standby NM to synchronize the two NM.
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 265426/97, on the other hand, discloses a database synchronizing method in which, when a database is distributed between the management system and a plurality of managed systems, the structuring and restructuring of each database is simplified by mutually exchanging system configuration information between the management system and managed systems to build a database having a tree structure. This published gazette, however, does not touch on a method for simplifying synchronization in the event of inconsistencies in sta
Breene John
NEC Corporation
Rayyan Susan
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
LandOfFree
Method and device for synchronizing databases in a network... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and device for synchronizing databases in a network..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and device for synchronizing databases in a network... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2959025